depth finder power supply

Last week my depth finder (Hummingbird Helix 7) stopped working. Sent it back to Hummingbird and started looking into power supply and found a mess of wires under front deck going to the unit and found out instead of running a dedicated power supply to the unit the dealer just tied into the front running light wires. Can I use 12awg wire that is not marine rated or should I waited for some marine rated wire to be delivered thru shipping process? The light supply wire was 16 awg if it matters.
Thanks, Jeff

Power supply is at least 50% of electronic problems in boats. Run that 12 to battery with fuse at battery will solve most of your problems. I’m convinced 90% of guys rigging boats at dealers either don’t know or don’t care about how they hook up electronics.

Thanks. That's my plan.. I'm going to order some wire today and fix it up the right way. Might need to go a head and check console DF.

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Originally Posted by RJR

Thanks. That's my plan.. I'm going to order some wire today and fix it up the right way. Might need to go a head and check console DF.

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I would redo it while you are working on it. You could get a separate fuse panel. Wire heavy wire to it then wire your electronics to it. ‘‘Tis is one I had handy. Replace those fuses with proper amperage fuses. Then a block to wire grounds to.Attachment 369581